For me, Haiti will always conjure up sounds of rara music. Rara is Haitian street music, often celebrated during Catholic and Vodoun holidays, with a rhythm that is almost hypnotic. Rara can be both celebration and resistance. NPR recently reviewed RAM - a Haitian band that has long combined elements of rock and rara. Listen to the review here or read the transcript below. Better yet, go see them perform at the Hotel Oloffson in Port au Prince.

The Embassy of Haiti in Washington, D.C. is now accepting applications are or the Haiti's Future Leaders Fellowship. The fellowship targets graduate students and young professionals of Haitian descent in the United States and talented university students in Haiti. Haiti-bound fellows will be based in Port-au-Prince as part of an eight week program from June-August 2016. Applications are due by March 1st, 2016. More information below:

The Vassar Haiti Project (VHP)and the venerable Galerie Monnin are holding a weekend celebration of Haitian art from February 5th – 7th at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Washington DC. More than 200 paintings and a variety of handicrafts will be featured. Proceeds will support a variety of projects including the completion of a multi-purpose space with a women's cooperative and a kindergarten. Can’t attend? Take a look at the VHP’s projects which focus on education, vocational support, and health care. In addition, the Galerie Monnin website is a great resource for learning about Haitian art. More information about each below:

Below is a blog posted by travel writer Kathleen Rellihan on the Fodor's website. Kathleen concisely describes all that awaits the patient traveler in Haiti - music, art, rum, and a unique and compelling history. She lists options for travelling individually or in groups. If there is anything you would have added to her list below, please post in the comments section.

Over 4,400 volunteers have served in the Dominican Republic. According to CNN's Mariano Castillo, three former Peace Corps/Dominican Republic Country Directors and 560 former volunteers have sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry requesting that the United States suspend military aid to the Dominican government over human rights abuses and a crackdown on Haitian migrants and Dominicans of Haitian descent. This high level advocacy from former volunteers shows how connected they remain to the country in which they served, and their concern for the human rights of all people living within its borders. The full article follows.

Earthspark, a renewable energy NGO, has expanded Haiti's first pre-pay solar micro grid in the town of Les Anglais. It has a 90 kW solar PV array which is enough to provide clean, reliable power to 430 households and businesses. Earthspark will hold two launch events – one on June 1st in Les Anglais and a fundraiser on June 11th in Washington DC. More information is attached and below.

Below is an excellent Foreign Policy article by Jacob Kushner explaining how Haiti's unclear land tenure policies undermine investment and cause displacement on Ile a Vache. While the article focuses on one small island, these issues are playing out throughout the entire country. Improving the climate for investment and human rights requires high-level committment for addressing one of the most politically sensitive issues in Haiti. The full article follows.

The World Bank finalized a $24 million grant to Haiti that will help 230,000 children attend schools and receive quality education through tuition waivers and other forms of support. While the Haitian Constitution states children have the right to an education, the vast majority of schools are private and charge fees. Even with public schools, the cost of uniforms can be prohibitive. More information on the "Education for All" program is available here. The full announcement follows.

Haiti is more than the sum of its problems. In reality, much of the country - art, scenery, people - is beautiful. Below is an interesting Beta Fusion Article by Tim Rogers about young Haitians using Instagram to show others the beauty of their country. Instagram gives people a chance to post the aspects of Haiti that they know, appreciate, and would like to share with others. Please feel free to share links to other sites with Haiti-related photography.

The World Bank recently pledged $50 million for water and sanitation programs in Haiti. The funding will cover all clinics and schools in rural areas that are considered hot-spots for cholera. Haiti is one of a small number of countries in which sanitation deteriorated over the last twenty-five years. Investing in water and sanitation is essential for promoting public health. More information follows: